JPH0227640B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a remotely operated suction device for collecting irradiated material in water.

Nuclear reactors for experimental, power generation, and other purposes have been in operation for many years in the United States, Japan, and other countries. However, research and development in nuclear reactor technology and related fields continues at a rapid pace.

In the case of power reactors, the reactor service pool adjacent to the pressure vessel is often the place where technical data of the reactor system and sampling of reactor system components for technical research are obtained. It is. No. 202,610 (U.S. Patent Application No. 220,826, filed December 29, 1980) describes a sample cutting operation for irradiated parts operated in a reactor service pool. The disclosure of this patent is considered as reference technology for the present invention.

As described in the above patent, underwater machining operations are performed on irradiated reactor components on a chip tray, ie, a workbench, in a reactor service pool.

The tray collects chips, particles, swarf, debris and other irradiated material resulting from the underwater cutting process. Accumulation of these materials contaminates the demineralized water in the reactor service pool, which shields operating engineers and workers from unwanted radiation exposure.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to collect and capture irradiated materials, such as chips, particles, debris, and debris, from the underwater environment to shield operating technicians and personnel from unwanted radiation exposure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a water-propelled jet pump system for collecting irradiated material underwater.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an underwater suction device having a disposable filter for collecting irradiated material that can be removed underwater and thus shield the operator from the collected material.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight, handheld suction device for underwater collection of irradiated material from a workbench for underwater cutting operations.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a manually positioned suction device for underwater collection of irradiated material that allows the angle at which the suction section of the device collects the irradiated material to be varied.

In a submersible suction system for collecting irradiated material of the present invention which achieves the above and other objects, pressurized water is jet pumped from an injection pipe to a suction pipe connected to a collection filter. By pointing the filter vertically and operating the filter removal tool,
The filter can be removed underwater from the suction pipe. The removed filter can be disposed of in the container by carrying it to the underwater container on the workbench and dropping it into the container. This suction device is operated by means of a positioning pole which is pivotally connected to the injection or suction pipe. By manipulating the seine, the operator remotely controls a latch mechanism mounted on the pole to orient the suction pipe and filter in the selected direction.
In use, the suction device is inserted into the reactor service pool adjacent to the reactor pressure vessel. Irradiated material is collected by the suction device of the present invention from an underwater platform where underwater machining operations are occasionally performed on nuclear reactor components.

The apparatus of the present invention that achieves the above object will be specifically explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows important features of the submersible suction device of the present invention. This underwater suction device includes a positioning or operating pole 11, a tow line 1 for releasing the latch.
a pivotable, variably positionable latch mechanism 12 comprising 3;
The suction tube 14 is provided with a funnel-shaped suction port 15 for receiving irradiated material 15''.More specifically, the latch mechanism 12 is attached to a curved injection tube 16 that includes a strut 17.The injection tube 16 receives pressurized water from an external source through a hose 18 connected thereto via a connector 21. The pressurized water is transferred from the injection tube 16 to a tapered nozzle 16' having a decreasing inner diameter.
Inject through. Preferably, the longitudinal axis of the nozzle 16' coincides with the longitudinal axis of the straight section of the suction pipe 14. This injection induces a water flow in the suction pipe 14, and the resulting suction force draws the irradiated waste material 15' from the suction port 15 through the suction pipe 14 into a removable disposable filter 23, such as a Velcon model 1-6286-TB type filter. .

FIG. 2 shows the supply of pressurized water from an external source. The pressurized water can be at a pressure of, for example, about 80-100 psi, but does not have to be within this pressure range. The pressurized water flows from the hose 18 through the injection tube 16 and then through the nozzle 16' of decreasing internal diameter. According to the well-known jet pump principle, the moment of the driving water flow through the nozzle 16' induces a water flow in the suction pipe 14, indicated by the arrow, which takes in the lower end of the suction pipe 14, i.e. actually the irradiated material 15'. A suction action is produced at the suction port 15.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of collecting irradiated material from a workbench 24 attached to the side wall of the pool using the suction device of the present invention in the reactor service pool. Also shown is a disposal container 25 for temporary submerged storage of filter 23 after it is full of collected material and removed from the apparatus as described below.

The latch mechanism 12 pivotally connects the operating pole 11 to the suction device, and includes a downwardly biased plunger 26, as shown in FIG.
At the upper end of 6 is provided a ring 26' for tying or otherwise securing the towline 13. A connecting member 27 is suitably joined to the lower end of the pole 11. Preferably, both the pole 11 and the connecting member 27 are made of aluminum to reduce weight and facilitate operation. Connecting member 27 is pivotally connected to latch plate 28 by suitable means such as pin 29. Latch plate 28 is preferably semi-circular and includes a straight portion and a semi-circular portion. The straight portion of the latch plate is suitably secured to the injection pipe 16 or the suction pipe 14. Latch plate 28
A plurality of rotation stoppers 28' are formed at intervals in the semicircular portion of the holder.

By engaging the plunger 26 with the selected rotation stop 28' of the latch plate 28, the pawl 11
The orientation or angle with respect to the injection pipe 16 is fixed. To release the device and allow free rotation about pin 29, the operator simply pulls on the tow line 13 to disengage the plunger tip 26'' from the rotation stop 28'. Suction pipe 1
The desired orientation of the suction pipe 14 or filter 23 is determined by selecting a particular rotation stop 28' by pressing the suction port 15 of 4 against the tray or workbench 24.

The strut 17 rigidly fixes the injection pipe 16 to the suction pipe 14. In the illustrated example, the operation pole 11 is
7 is attached to the injection pipe 16. In another example, the pole 11 can be connected directly to the suction tube 14. Instead of curved suction pipes 14 and injection pipes 16, straight pipes or pipes of other shapes can be used.

A filter 23 suitable for use in the suction device of the present invention is cylindrical as shown in FIG. Filter 23 captures the irradiated material by collecting it in its outer cloth bag. Preferably, the filter 23 is mounted on a suitable connecting member 34 suitably joined (for example by welding) to the upper end of the suction pipe 14, preferably to the upper end of the suction pipe. Filter 23 includes a polygonal (e.g., hexagonal) nut 36 having a centrally threaded hole 37 for engaging a screw 38-socket 39 assembly located at the distal end of a filter removal tool 40 shown in FIG. Try to get it.

As shown in FIG. 4, the removal tool 40 includes an outer tube including a handle portion 41, a cylinder 42, a socket 39, and an inner rod 43 including a threaded portion 38.
including. Coaxially insert the inner rod 43 into the outer cylinder 42,
A cross rod 44 is appropriately joined to the upper end of the inner rod 43 at right angles by welding or the like. Inner rod 43 with cross bar 44 provides a handle for screwing threaded portion 38 into hole 37 when removing filter 23 from the device.

To remove the used filter 23 from use underwater, the latch mechanism 12 is released and the filter 23 is oriented vertically. By engaging the lower end of the removal tool 40 with the hole 37 of the nut 36 of the filter 23, the filter 23 can be removed from the connecting member 34 to which it is screwed without dropping the filter 23 onto the workbench 24. By turning the crossbar 44, the operator removes the filter 23 and removes the tool 40.
It can be removed from the container and dropped into the disposal container 25.

The driving water flowing through the hose 18 is desalinated and has a pressure of 80 to 100 psi.
It is preferable to pressurize the driving water to the suction port 15.
It is only important to pressurize to a sufficiently large pressure relative to the underwater pressure at the desired suction location nearby. The driving force of the jet water is increased by a suitably constructed jet nozzle, such as jet nozzle 16' shown in FIG. As described above, the nozzle has a structure in which the inner diameter decreases as the injection pipe 16 approaches the junction with the suction pipe 14.

To increase ease of handling and reduce weight, devices are usually constructed from aluminum. Preferably, 606IT6 aluminum is used as the tube forming material.

Although the apparatus of the invention has been described with respect to particular embodiments, various modifications thereof will occur to those skilled in the art. The present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but includes all modifications within the scope of the invention.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an underwater suction device for irradiated materials according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a nozzle through which driving water of the device flows to generate a suction flow for underwater collection of irradiated materials, together with internal flow conditions. Cross-sectional view. Figure 3 shows
An explanatory view showing the use of the suction device of the present invention in a service pool of a nuclear reactor, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a removal tool for remote underwater removal and disposal of a filter. 11...Pole, 12...Latch mechanism, 13...
...Hugline, 14...Suction port pipe, 15...Suction port, 1
5'...Irradiated material, 16...Injection tube, 16'...
... Nozzle, 17 ... Support, 18 ... Hose, 23
... Filter, 24 ... Workbench, 25 ... Container,
26...Plunger, 28...Latch plate, 28'
... Rotation stopper, 29 ... Pin, 40 ... Removal tool.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A remotely operated suction device for collecting irradiated material in water, comprising: a source of pressurized water; and suction pipe means 14 for receiving irradiated material 15'.
filter means 23 mounted on said suction pipe means for capturing at least some irradiated material; injection pipe means 16 for injecting water from said pressurized water source into said suction pipe means; and said injection pipe means. Means for operating in a water pool 1
1; means 12 for pivotally mounting the operating means 11 to the injection tube means 16, and means for locking the pivoting means in one of a plurality of different positions within its pivot range; 12, the pivoting means 12 includes a curved portion 28 defining a plurality of spaced rotation stops 28', and the locking means 12 is biased toward the curved portion. a plunger 26 having a tip 26' for cooperatively engaging a selected one of said plurality of spaced detents 28'; and further comprising: said locking means 12; Means 13 to remotely release
Apparatus for remotely collecting irradiated material underwater, comprising: said jet tube means 16 being repositionable relative to said operating means 11; 2. In a remotely controlled suction device for collecting irradiated material 15' in water, a suction pipe 1 having a funnel-shaped suction port 15 effective for taking in irradiated material.
4 and a disposable filter 23 effective to collect irradiated material, the suction tube being effective to convey the irradiated material to the disposable filter and directing pressurized water to the filter and into the suction tube. an injection pipe 16 having a nozzle 16' with a decreasing inner diameter;
a releasable latch 12 having a tip 26'';
A semicircular plate 28 is attached to the injection tube and has a curved portion and a straight portion, the curved portion forming a plurality of spaced rotation stops 28', and the tip 26'' forming a plurality of spaced rotation stops 28'. is effective to cooperatively engage a selected one of the rotation stops of said semicircular plate 2;
8, operating means 1 for operating the suction device;
1 and remote means 13 for remotely operating said latch 12 to release said operating means, said remote means cooperating with said operating means to collect irradiated material underwater for disposal.